Making Homemade Insecticidal Soap: Benefits and Precautions

In the realm of organic gardening, homemade insecticidal soap has become a popular choice for controlling pests while avoiding the use of harsh chemicals. Insecticidal soap is a simple and effective solution is made from readily available ingredients and offers a gentle yet efficient way to protect your plants from unwanted insects. There are important considerations to keep in mind when making and using insecticidal soap to ensure its effectiveness and safety for your garden.

What is Insecticidal Soap?

Insecticidal soap is a safe and environmentally-friendly spray that does not have harsh pesticides in it. It will not harm your plants and does not affect flowers or food that the plant produces as long as it is used properly and with the correct soap to water ratio. Insecticidal soap is also safe for pollinators, so long as you don’t directly spray them when they are present.

Benefits of Homemade Insecticidal Soap:

1. Effectiveness:
Insecticidal soap works by breaking down the waxy coating of soft-bodied insects like aphids, mites, and whiteflies on contact, making it a natural and non-toxic method of pest control.

 

2. Environmental Friendliness:
By using homemade insecticidal soap, you can minimize the impact of harmful chemicals on the environment, beneficial insects, and your garden’s ecosystem.

 

3. Cost-Effective:
Making your own insecticidal soap is cost-effective compared to store-bought alternatives, saving you money in the long run.

 

Reasons to Avoid Dish Detergent:

While dish detergent may seem like a convenient alternative for making insecticidal soap, it’s essential to understand why it’s not recommended for this purpose.

1. Harsh Chemicals:
Most dish detergents contain additives and surfactants that can harm plants. The sodium concentrate in detergents adhere to the plant surface can dry out plant tissue.

 

2. Residue Build-Up
Dish detergents may also leave behind a residue that can clog plant pores, interfering with their ability to absorb nutrients and water.

 

3. Lack of Efficiency
Unlike insecticidal soap, dish detergent may not effectively control pests dues to its formulation and lack of specific insecticidal properties.

A much better alternative to a dish detergent, is a gentle soap such as this one, that is full of fatty acids, the active ingredient that makes insecticidal soap effective.

 

Watch for Phototoxic Plants: 

When using any form of insecticidal soap, it’s crucial to be aware of phototoxic plants in your garden. These are plants that can react negatively to sunlight exposure after being treated with certain substances, including some insecticidal soaps. Signs of phototoxicity may include leaf burn, discoloration, or wilting. To prevent damage, it’s advisable to test the insecticidal soap on a small area of the plant and waiting 24 hours. If your plant reacts to it, your soap concentration may be too strong. You can further dilute your solution and try again. This step will be especially important on delicate plants such as ferns, azaleas, or newly planted plants or starts.

 

Insecticidal Soap Recipe:

Choose a clean spray bottle for your solution. Mix 5 tablespoons of liquid soap per gallon of water. Tap water, bottled water, or distilled water are all fine. Shake to thoroughly mix solution. Evenly coat infested plants from top to bottom for best results. The solution must come into contact with the insect for it to work properly.

There are other recipes out there that all for the addition of apple cider vinegar, ground red pepper, or vegetable oil. We don’t recommend those ingredients as they may harm delicate plant tissue. The addition of vegetable oil is questionable in a formula designed to eliminate oil. Sometimes, simple is best!